The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-09-29
THE THISTLE.
The "Scotch Beauty" the Cutter
Thistle, Defeated by the
Americans.
Volunteer Wins the Race--De
scriptlon and Incidents of
the Contest.

FoRT WApswoRTH, September 81, $3.50 a.
ma heavy fog hangs over the bay. OBJ
jects mile distant cannot be recognized.
There is absolutely no wind. The sun is
making feeble attempt to penetrate the
fog. From present indications there can
be no race to-day. The Thistle lies at
her old anchorage. Her main sail and her
top sail are set. A great crowd of small
craft surround the Scotch beauty. Every
thing but the wind is right for the race
The Volunteer lies over near the Atlantic
Club house, attended by many vessels.
Both vessels are trying t, get down the
bay on the light breeze. They have every
sail spread. The Thistle has always
done her best work in light
winds, and there is a small
chance of there being any more than
light wind to-day. There is considerable
betting on the race, but it is governed by
patriotism in almost all cases, the odds
ranging all the way from 10 to 8 down to
2 to in favor of the Volunteer.
Sandy hook, 10:40 a. m.-The haze has
cleared away and the Thistle and volun-
teer are now to the weather side of the
starting line, preparing to start. There
are over two hundred yachts and steam
boats about them.
Fort Wadsworth, 12:39 p. m.- The
Thistle crossed the line at 1895 and the
! Volunteer one minute later.
This great hotllla was promptly at the
scene of the start and they covered the
ground In a way that meant doubt in
the minds of many that the start would be
made. From the early morning there
was no sign of breeze, and dirty haze
hung over the water, indicative of CON
tinuously thick atmosphere. With favor
able surroundings the race would have
been started at half-past 10 O'Clock
this morning, but at that
hour there was not air
enough to blow match out, and the
| Judges waited to start the racers until
there should appear chance of getting
the boats over the course in the pre-
scribed seven hours. That appearance
did not come until noon. At that time a
ripple came over the water from the
south and southeast, and the signal was
given to clear the course.
THE RACE.
The Thistle and Volunteer had come
out from their respective anchorages, and
we're loafng about north of the line that
had been formed between the Electra and
buoy No. 18, opposite Owls Head, on
Long island. The Thistle moved about in
u very lively fashion in the light air. She
appeared to take much pleasure in running
past and around the Volunteer, which she
did several times, and every time met
with loud applause.
At 1920 the Electra fred the notice
gun, and at 1880 the start took place,
After the latter, the yachts had five minutes
teross the line. If either had taken Ion
ger than five minutes her time of start
would have been registered. At the OK
piration OF the five minutes the boats
crossed as follows:
Thistle--12 hours, 83 minutes, 8 SEQ
onds.
Volunteer-12 hours, 81 minutes, 5S
seconds.
The Thistle not only had the nearer
position when the order to start wal
given, but she also went through thu
water faster. She got over the lint
l minute and 81 seconds ahead. Th'
eight miles an hour wind was the blowing
from the southwest, and the yachts
had to sail close on the wind for the frs
mark, Sbuoy 10, on the southwest spot
which bore south by west eight and @
half miles away. They went ovel
on the port tack and at once
the Volunteer began to overhaul the
Thistle. The first tack was in towards
Cliston, Staten Island, and on that tack ol
fifteen minutes or less the Volunteer
showed her superiority over the Thistle
that left no doubt of the resnlt. The
Volunteer went by the cutter as thougt
the latter was anchored, and she stayed IL
in front to the end. The Thiitle was NOR,
thon little bothered by the excursion
boats on that first tack. The streamerl
crossed her bows and gave her much
swash, but after that the steamers hunl
to the volunteer, the leader, and through
out the rest of the day she suffered three
times, at least, as much as the Thistle
did, from the way they kicked mp thu
water and shut out the wind. 1t was nc
longer a race. 1t was procession.
The wind varied in locality ant
strength 1t shifted between the soutf
and west, and sometimes one boat had Il
, when the other did not. The result was {
most decisive victory for the American
sloop. The Volunteer outsailed thu
, Thistle. On the run home she lost grount
largely.
, The total distance was thirty-eigh
statute miles. Everywhere, except on tn
run with spinnakers, where the excursion
/ boats did so much to keep the wind from
her, the Volunteer outsailed her antago
mist.
The Volunteer won the race, finishing
at 5:32; the Thistle finished at 5:44.
VICTORY FOR THE VOLUNTEER.
New York, September 27.-The Scotc
cutter Thistle and the American sloo
t Volunteer have met in the first 1887 COZ
, test for the American cup, and the Volur
, teer beat the foreigner SO badly that th
latter's most enthusiastic champio hav
only to say that something inexplicable
I the matter with the Thistle.
, 1t was a great day. The people VIII
went down on the 300 steamships, rive
: steamboats,, tugs, steam yachts, sailin
yachts and other crafts, numbered easii
$4,000, and the scene presented by th
7 Heterogeneous mass of craft, before an
. after the start, cannot be described. The
8 covered an area of ffty or more acres o
I the water, and they kept up nois
|. throughout the race that startled the pee
1 pie who came TO see the event. II was q
! incessant gun-6ring, steam whistling an
4 cheering that inspired the widest kind Q
i enthusiasm, but sadly interfered with th
Z duties of the officials who had busine